(Bonsal, NC, Oct. 31, 2013) — The New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR), will offer its annual Holiday Santa Trains the first two weekends of December on Saturdays Dec. 7 and 14 and Sundays Dec. 8 and 15, 2013. Trains will depart from the rail yard located in Bonsal, N.C., just 10 minutes south of Apex off of U.S. Highway 1, Exit 89.

A number of holiday characters will interact with kids of all ages during their visit. Frosty the Snowman will greet children in the rail yard, while an elf from the North Pole hands out candy canes or coal depending on who’s been naughty or nice.

Santa Clause will be on board the train joining visitors for a ride in the open-air passenger cars pulled by either a diesel or steam locomotive. Santa will go car-to-car, talk to each child and pose for photos during the hour-long ride.

“The holidays are such a special time of year at the New Hope Valley Railway, and the annual rides with Santa are a favorite among both visitors and volunteers who put the event together,” says long-time NHVR volunteer Dave Chasco. “We see many families return year after year who’ve made the Triangle Train part of their holiday tradition.”

Chasco says there can be a chill in the air in December and advises visitors to check the weather and dress accordingly. “Trains will operate in snow, sleet or rain, so come prepared,” he adds. Hot chocolate, hot dogs and other concessions are available from a food vendor set-up in the rail yard.

New Hope Valley Railway will host Track or Treat – a Spooky Ride on the Halloween Express on Saturdays, October 19 and 26, at the rail yard in Bonsal, located off of U.S. Highway 1, just 30 minutes southwest of downtown Raleigh.

Children and adults of all ages will enjoy riding a real locomotive decorated with cob webs and jack-o-lanterns as they encounter witches, goblins and a mysterious ghost train during the hour-long train ride. Riders receive a sweet treat as they exit the train after the 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. rides through the haunted woods.

Visitors can also see the G-Scale garden railroad, visit the North Carolina Railroad Museum and get up close to real railroad cars and equipment in the yard. Riders may visit the gift shop to take home their own Triangle Train whistles, engineer hats and other train memorabilia.

All aboard! Climb aboard the Ellerbe Creek Railway for an old-time train ride through the Museum grounds. The 10-minute train ride makes two laps through our Nature Park on the beloved scaled replica C. P. Huntington locomotive, made possible by a generous donation from the Teer family.

Train Schedule

The train runs daily (weather permitting) beginning at 10:30 a.m. every 30 minutes in the morning, and every hour in the afternoon until 4 p.m.

Train Tickets

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis daily. Rides cost $3.00 per person. Children under 3 years of age ride free on an adult’s lap. Refunds are provided for cancelled runs only.

The Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top attractions. Situated on 84-acres, our interactive science park includes a science center, a butterfly conservatory which is one of the largest in the world and beautifully-landscaped outdoor exhibits which are safe havens for rescued black bears, lemurs, and endangered red wolves.

The New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR) presents its annual Holiday Santa Trains the first two weekends in December departing from its rail yard located in Bonsal, N.C., just 10-minutes south of Apex off of U.S. Highway 1, Exit 89.

Santa and his helper will visit each open-air passenger car pulled by either a diesel or steam locomotive. Children will get a treat and the opportunity to talk with Santa. The train, along with other areas of the railroad, will be decorated for the holidays during the hour-long excursion.“Riding a real train with Santa Claus is a fun and memorable way to celebrate the holidays,” says NHVR President Mike MacLean. “It’s a special time for families as well as our volunteers who help bring smiles to children’s faces.”

Purchase tickets online at www.TriangleTrain.com or at the train yard the day of the ride. Holiday Santa Trains will be operating on Saturday, Dec. 1; Sunday, Dec. 2; Saturday, Dec. 8; and Sunday, Dec. 9.

Diesel train rides will be departing at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and steam train rides at 12:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children, ages 2-12. NHVR recommends arriving at the train yard 30 minutes before the listed departure time.